Has anyone become "resistant" to DPCP?

I have successfully managed my alopecia with DPCP for 15 years. Prior to using DPCP, I lost all of my hair from the age of 15-22. Now, 37, the treatment is not working all of a sudden... I can get no reaction/dermititis from DPCP even after increasing the dosage to 3% (using heat, etc). My hair is falling out AGAIN and I am wearing hats and will have to soon consider other options.

Does anyone have experience with other treatments after DPCP fails?

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Shannon on February 3, 2011 at 11:12pm
What is DPCP?
Permalink Reply by Dom on February 4, 2011 at 9:01am
If you were on a dosage of 3%, your head must be made of Kevlar! I managed 1% and had lesions, swollen glands and severe itching. However my hair did grow ( just fuzz). It fell out, so i gave up. I have heard of people who have used dpcp long term. Did you have AA? and use it on the patches? or AU? How do you applly it when you have growth??????????? or do you just wait til patches appear? dpcp is an old treatment and boy do you pay a cost in terms of time and sporadic pain. The problem with Alopecia and immune treatments is you have to get the dosage right. Maybe you need a stronger dose? ahh! 5% would maybe create burns or scarring. Trying to fight the effects of the immune system in my opinion does not work. Its the immune system that has to be altered. Most of us have they say lol 14 to 16 genes that give us Alopecia. Sometimes it turns off in remission. Until you can find a gentic equaliser, it remains.
Permalink Reply by Phyllis Tankel on February 4, 2011 at 6:59pm
I'm curious as to what DPCP is.
Permalink Reply by Gail on February 4, 2011 at 8:55pm
It is a topical irritant originally used in treating psoriasis. Diphenylcylopropenone is its long chemical name. It acts as a stimulant to hair follicles and is often very successful in "shocking" the poor things into regrowth. It worked very well for me when I initially used it, but then, as with Leonore, its efficacy declined over time. I have not tried it again for over a year because I knew when I went to wearing wigs, there would be no way I could endure the itching and scalp irritation AND wear a wig too. DPCP is not for the faint at heart.

I have had some spontaneous regrowth over the past months with no treatment - very slow - but I can be patient if the outcome is good. In the meantime, I wear my wigs and get on with my rather complicated life.
Permalink Reply by Phyllis Tankel on February 4, 2011 at 9:45pm
oh, that stuff. unbearable. thanks for the info.
Permalink Reply by Shannon on February 5, 2011 at 10:24pm
I used and irritant called anthralin and it did not work very well but the idea is to distract the immune system so that it leaves the hair follicles alone. Have you ever tried anthralin and if so, is it similar to DPCP?
Permalink Reply by Tony J. on February 10, 2011 at 10:50pm
Is your medication a brand name or generic?
Permalink Reply by bibby on November 13, 2013 at 5:39pm

Hi Leonore. I am on my 5th month of DPCP at the moment. I had about 60% effected hairloss due to AA. I am at about 95% regrowth now. My derm told me if I become resistant she can use a treatment called SADBRE . Are you aware of this alternative treatment ? Dave 

Permalink Reply by Jason on November 14, 2013 at 8:22am

Did the squaric acid stop working for you? I thought it was working for you after DPCP. What does your diet look like? Hang in there!

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